Surfshark VPN vs Proton VPN
Two of the most-considered options in their category. Compared on the same scoring scale, here's the honest breakdown.
Surfshark VPN
Secure your data with unlimited devices and 24/7 support.
See Surfshark VPN review →Proton VPN
Swiss-based privacy-first VPN with audited no-logs policy and unlimited free tier
See Proton VPN review →Scoreboard Surfshark VPN 4–1
What each one actually costs
Calculated from each vendor's published prices. A dash means the vendor does not publish enough to work it out.
| Surfshark VPN | Proton VPN | |
|---|---|---|
Entry price (paid) Cheapest plan that costs money | $16.45 | $9.99 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
How it is charged Decides what a team pays | Flat rate | Tiered |
Monthly, 5 people | $2.49 | $2.99 |
Monthly, 10 people | $2.49 | $2.99 |
Monthly, 50 people | $2.49 | $2.99 |
Three-year total, 10 people | $89.64 | $107.64 |
Renewal price published | Not published | Not published |
What you get
Side-by-side capability comparison. ✓ included, ✕ not included, or a specific value where it matters.
| Feature | Surfshark VPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Simultaneous Connections | ✓ | — |
| Server Network Size | 4,500+ servers in 100+ countries | — |
| RAM-Only Server Infrastructure | ✓ | — |
| WireGuard Protocol Support | ✓ | — |
| No-Logs Policy | ✓ | — |
| Money-Back Guarantee Period | 30 days | — |
| 24/7 Customer Support | ✓ | — |
| Bundled Antivirus Protection | ✓ | — |
| Incogni Data Broker Removal Service | ✓ | — |
| Identity Theft Insurance Coverage | Up to $1M reimbursement | — |
Which one is right for you?
There's rarely a universal winner. Here's who wins for which use case.
How to choose between them
The trade-offs that follow from the figures above, rather than a single winner.
- Proton VPN starts cheaper — $9.99 a month against $16.45 for Surfshark VPN.
- At ten people the gap is $0.50 a month, in Surfshark VPN's favour — the pricing models diverge as the team grows.
- They charge differently: Surfshark VPN is flat rate and Proton VPN is tiered. That, not the headline price, decides which is cheaper at your size.
- Proton VPN has a free plan; the other does not, which matters if you want to try before committing.
- Their scores are within half a point of each other, so neither is the obvious choice on our scoring alone.
Scores follow our published methodology. Prices come from each vendor’s own pricing page — see the source and date on Surfshark VPN and Proton VPN.